Page 37 of Midnight Rules
Regan buried his face against Marric’s chest. His body shook.
Marric wrapped his arms around Regan. “Grandpa won’t hurt you. He’s just upset.”
“She made me.” Regan’s whisper might as well have been a shout.
Iven was the first to come to some sort of understanding and reacted before anyone else could. He conjured a dome, surrounding Regan and Marric.
Marric swallowed the lump in his throat. His instinct was to protect Regan, even against his father. It didn’t matter that he knew Dad wouldn’t hurt Regan, even as pissed as he was.
Iven didn’t know that about Kinnison, so he took it upon himself to protect him against the threat. That’s why he conjured the dome and why he stayed outside of it.
Marric could see out, but Dad couldn’t see or get to them.
Iven must have been able to see them because he met Marric’s gaze. “Get him to explain.”
Marric rubbed Regan’s back. “You’re safe. Grandpa would never hurt you. No matter what you’ve done.”
“Are you mad at me?”
“No, sweetie. I’m just very confused, but you can help me. What did someone make you do?”
“I had to keep putting my magic in the circle.”
“What circle?”
“The one on your back and Emery’s neck.”
Dad moved Emery’s hair aside. He cursed a second later.
“Who made you do that to us?”
“Miss Marie said they’d lock me away again if I didn’t.”
The second Miss Marie’s name was out of his mouth, Dad went crazy. He had enough forethought to set Emery down on the seat before he began pacing. He growled about not being able to trust anyone, not even their healer.
“Well, let’s start there.” Marric tried to stay calm, but his hands shook. He hoped Regan didn’t feel it. “When did people lock you in a room?”
Regan shrugged. “Miss Esmelyn said dark magic was bad.”
Iven met Marric’s gaze. “Some witches show their magical abilities as early as three years old.”
“Who let you out of the room?”
Regan tightened his hold on Marric and buried his face against Marric’s chest again. “I don’t want to go back in there.”
Marric growled. His eyes shifted into his wolf at the thought of someone hurting Regan. “I will never let that happen to you again.”
“Do you promise?”
“Yes. And so does Iven.”
“Count Riley and I in on that,” Griffin said.
Iven nodded as if to say he would honor the promise Marric made on his behalf.
“We’re your family and family doesn’t let other people hurt us.”
Regan hung his head. “And we don’t hurt each other.”
